Local EMS on standby for deployment to hurricane zone

September 06, 2005|By DAN DiPAOLO

Daily American Staff Writer

Local Emergency Medical Service (EMS) units were only hours away from deploying to the Hurricane Katrina disaster area on Friday when state officials stood them down, according to Larry Gauntz, a member of Meyersdale Ambulance Service.

Gauntz, along with three other Meyersdale first responders, were prepared as one of 11 designated surge units within the Southern Alleghenies EMS (SAEMS) Council to form a convoy of ambulances headed to relief efforts when conversations between SAEMS officials and FEMA representatives led to a decision to send only surge units from the eastern side of the state, said Gauntz.

Surge units were notified at 4 p.m. Friday of an impending deployment that was to start at 3:30 a.m. Saturday from an area restaurant parking lot, said Gauntz. The units were ordered to make their ambulances self-sufficient; stocking them with enough food, water, and camping equipment for a week of rescue operations.

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"Medically, we were prepared," said Gauntz, "but we had to be self-sufficient." Many local merchants all but donated supplies needed by the emergency personnel, according to Gauntz. "The merchants of Meyersdale were very generous."

Unfortunately, Gauntz said, the call to roll the convoy never came. Other responders were sent, and the SAEMS units were then put on stand-by for a week, according to Gauntz.

"We were ready. We were anxious to go," said Gauntz, "I feel let down after a hype."

FEMA has issued strict guidelines on emergency unit deployment to the disaster. "The response to Hurricane Katrina must be well coordinated between federal, state and local officials to most effectively protect life and property. We appreciate the willingness and generosity of our nation's first responders to deploy during disasters. But such efforts must be coordinated so that fire-rescue efforts are the most effective possible," said FEMA head Michael Brown in an Aug. 29 press release.

Emergency services departments were asked on Aug. 29 not to respond to counties and states affected by Hurricane Katrina without being requested and lawfully dispatched by state and local authorities under mutual aid agreements and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison said the National Incident Management System is being used during the response to Hurricane Katrina and that self-dispatching volunteer assistance could significantly complicate the response and recovery effort, in the same release.